D-League: Freego rips PC Gilmore in Aspirants Cup season-opening game

The Ateneo-Adamson led Freego Jeans ripped the overhauled PC Gilmore Wizards, 85-52, in the opening game of the PBA Developmental League's second season Thursday at the Ynares Sports Complex in Pasig City. Freego dictated the tempo of the match and even led by 44 points, 78-34, in the fourth quarter. Freego, composed of Adamson players last season, added Ateneo's Bacon Austria, Oping Sumalinog and Jumbo Escueta, as well as a couple of JRU standouts to solidify their wings and bigs. PC Gimore, on the other hand, underwent coaching and player changes. Art Dela Cruz took over as head coach with Richard Del Rosario as team consultant. They also lost two of their go-to guys, Allan Mangahas and Carlo Lastimosa, with the latter moving to the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems. San Beda's Melo Lim and Rome Dela Rosa replaced them in the line-up but both didn't suit up in the first game since they are set to play when the Red Lions defend their NCAA men's basketball crown against San Sebastian in Game 1 of the finals on Monday. PC Gilmore's offensive lapses showed early on as Macky Acosta singlehandedly carried the team in the first period, scoring all of their points for a 22-11 count. Freego's vastly improved line-up allowed the Wizards to only two three-pointers in the entire second quarter to enjoy a 37-17 spread at the turn. Freego Jeans, behind the veterans from the Blue Eagles and the Falcons, never slowed down in the second half. Rodney Brondial's four points, with eight minutes left in the game, gave Freego that 44-point bubble, 78-34. Acosta and Je Agas tried to rally the Wizards back in the game with an 18-7 run late in the fourth but their efforts were not enough as time was not PC GIlmore's side. "My key additions were the three players from Ateneo. Ateneo and Adamson have the same system since we play each other in the UAAP that's why the easily adjusted," said Freego coach Leo Austria, who failed to steer his team into the semifinals last season. The D-League Aspirants' Cup marks the first time Austria will be coaching his son, Bacon, who played for Ateneo in the UAAP. "I'm excited since it will be the first time for both of us. My dad and I can now talk about basketball at home unlike in the UAAP where we hardly talk about the games," said the younger Austria. — JVP, GMA News